Domain tunnel faces another closure for resurfacing works

The Domain tunnel will be closed again for resurfacing works after Transurban admitted that a section of new asphalt laid during the recent four-day closure was too rough and "patchy" and would need to be replaced.

A date has not been set for the unplanned resurfacing work, however, a Transurban spokeswoman told radio station 3AW that motorists would not be heavily inconvenienced. Work would be done during a future routine overnight closure.

Transurban spokeswoman Ayllie White blamed Melbourne's erratic weather patterns for the rough surface, saying the asphalt was laid on a day when the temperature reached 38 degrees, followed by a rapid cool change, which left a "patchy area".

"We did notice a couple of sections which were a little patchier than what we would have liked," Ms White said.

"Asphalt is really susceptible to temperature changes. As a result, that batch of asphalt we laid cooled too quickly and it left a patchy area in a couple of isolated spots in the Domain."

Drivers would experience no problem driving on the patchy areas before they were resurfaced later in the year, she said.

The next planned closure of the Domain tunnel for maintenance is scheduled for February 15-16, between 11pm and 9am.

Motorists would also notice that the surfaces of both the Domain and Burnley tunnels felt rougher than before, because a new type of skid-resistant asphalt had been laid. The old surface had become "polished" and "a little bit slippy" after 15 years of use, Ms White said.

The Domain tunnel closure, between December 27 and 31, was part of a large and disruptive series of road closures over the Christmas break, including the Burnley tunnel between January 2 and 5 and the West Gate Bridge on two consecutive nights in each direction on December 27 and 28 and January 2 and 3 respectively.